The ESPN FC crew believe Lionel Messi is the front-runner for February's Player of the Month, but question the omission of in-form Wolfsburg striker, Bas Dost.

Europe's top performers for February were whittled down to a three-man shortlist in consultation with WhoScored.com and ESPN FC's writers.

Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were those in contention, despite the vociferous protestations from Craig Burley that Bas Dost should've been included for the February award. And, for the second time this season, Barcelona's No. 10 has been named ESPN FC's Player of the Month.

Messi's second victory comes just as his first did: in a landslide. The...

Argentine Ricardo Gareca is charged with leading Peru to their first World Cup since 1982.

There are now six Argentine coaches in charge of the ten South American nations --- and there would seem to be little doubt that the last one to be announced faces the most difficult task.

Ricardo Gareca was unveiled on Monday as the new coach of Peru, the team which has not qualified for the World Cup since 1982 and seems to have gone backwards while others on the continent have made progress.

An illustration of the size of the challenge he is facing comes from recent results in the Copa Libertadores,...

The ESPN FC crew compare Arjen Robben's remarkable season to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Diego Costa, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. These were the only three to win the ESPN FC Player of the Month award prior to the month of January, when our poll was overrun by Newcastle supporters and Remy Cabella's name was added to the list. Newcastle's French attacker won't have the chance to repeat, but Messi does have the opportunity to keep the list of recipients a short one.

Europe's top performers in February have been whittled to a three-man short list in consultation with WhoScored.com...

Sam Allardyce is coming under heavy pressure after a run of one win in seven.

Life isn't brilliant for Sam Allardyce and West Ham at the moment. They haven't won in a month, have only secured one victory in their past ten Premier League games and in that time they also apologetically limped out of the FA Cup, beaten 4-0 by West Brom.

Little wonder there's the increasing sense that Allardyce will no longer be West Ham manager in the summer, when his contract expires, with apparently no discussion of a new deal from either Big Sam himself or club owners David Sullivan and David...

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was delighted to beat Tottenham 2-0 in the League Cup final.

LONDON -- As soon as the whistle had gone at Wembley, Jose Mourinho celebrated winning the Capital One Cup 2-0 over Tottenham by picking up his mobile phone to deliver the good news to his wife. His personal medal cabinet was due a new arrival, a first since 2012, and perhaps it was ending that wait that led to the wild celebrations once he had hung up the phone.

For someone who has previously stated that his sole aim in football is victory, such moments are clearly to be enjoyed. "The taste of...

Chelsea knocked off Tottenham 2-0 at Wembley Stadium to win the Capital One Cup, Jose Mourinho's first piece of silverware since returning to Stamford Bridge. Blues' captain John Terry called the win massive and hinted it could spur them on to more success this season.